zenithquintet-31.jpg

Michael Hertel, Baritone Saxophone

Dr. Michael Hertel has performed throughout central Texas with ensembles such as The San Antonio Symphony, The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, The University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, Tex Sax, Monster Big Band, The Nash Hernandez Orchestra, and BHumn Dance Productions. He has also performed throughout Europe with The University of Texas Wind Ensemble and at World Saxophone Congress XV in Bangkok, Thailand with The Tipping Point Saxophone Trio. As part of the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra he premiered the completed version of Duke Ellington’s opera Queenie Pie. He has also commissioned works by Randall Snyder, Erik Steighner, Matthew Ricketts, and Christopher Stark. His playing can be heard on the recent Tex Sax recordings Next Generation and Over the Rainbow and Bach Again, The University of Texas Wind Ensemble’s Circus Maximus, and The University of Texas Jazz Orchestra’s Queenie Pie.

Dr. Hertel completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music, where he served as saxophone teaching assistant. He has studied saxophone with Professor Harvey Pittel and Dr. Paul Haar and improvisation with Dr. John Mills.

line